Resilient reloading clip for revolvers



July 28, 1959 J. M. HUNT I RESILIENT RELOADING CLIP FOR REVOLVERS Filed April 16, 1956 IN V ENTOR. Ja /v M Hum- 2,896,353 Patented July 28, 1959 United States PatentOfiice This invention relates to reloading clips for revolvers,

whereby a full complement of replacement cartridges can be inserted simultaneously into the revolver cylinder by a quick, substantially continuous hand motion.

Because of its great reliability and other advantages,

the revolver-is a favorite weapon of sportsmen, police oflicers and felons. Its greatest disadvantage is the relatively long time, as compared to automatic pistols and the like, required for reloading the revolver cylinder with replacement cartridges. In some situations, suchas a gun fight or the hot pursuit ofthe criminal by a police oflicer, this disadvantage can. inconvenience and endanger the user of the revolver. A' practical reloading clip, holding a' full complement of replacement cartridges ready for instant simultaneous insertion into the revolver cylinder, would be highly advantageous to police officers .and other users of revolvers.

Although reloading clips for revolvers have heretofore been proposed, the prior reloading clips have had some or all of several practical disadvantages that have prevented their extensive use and general adoption. Among such practical disadvantages are mechanical complexity, lack of reliability in'holding the replacement cartridges in position and in condition for instant reloading, inconvenience'and difiiculty in-the manner of use, particularly with respect to removing the clip from the cartridges after they have been inserted into therevolver cylinder, and other disadvantages that are ap parent upon consideration of the various reloading clips heretofore proposed. Therefore, despite the substantial need for a practical reloading clip, and despite numerous prior attempts'to supply this need, dependable, quick reloading of revolvers has heretofore been accomplished ,only in fiction and Westernf movies.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a simple, convenient and reliable, practical reloading clip for revolvers. Another object is to provide a reloading clip whereby a full complement of replacement cartridges can be inserted simultaneously into the cylinder of a revolver with a quick, substantially continuous movement of the hand. Another object is to provide an improved reloading clip whereby a revolver can be reloaded in less than one-quarter the time heretofore required. Another object is to provide an improved reloading clip whereby a revolver can bereloaded quickly while the user is wearing gloves. Another object is to provide an improved reloading clip' for revolvers that reliably holds the replacement cartridges in position for instant simultaneous insertion into a revolver cylinder,

while the loaded clip is carried in acoat pocket or any other convenient place, despite shaking, dropping or striking against other objects. Another object is to provide a reloading clip for revolvers having small cylinders such that the rims of cartridges in the cylinder may touch or nearly touch one another. Another object is to provide a safe, quickly accessible revolver loading means for home owners and others who, for reasons of v safety, normally keep their revolvers unloaded.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved revolver reloading clip and cannister, suitable for nister wherein the loaded clip remains securely in place in the cannister despite shaking or brushing against other objects as may occur in rough-and tumble combat. Still another object is to provide an improved revolver reloading clip and cannister that is moistureproof, weatherproof and rattleproof.

Briefly stated, in accordance with certain aspects of this invention whereby the foregoing and other objects and advantages are achieved, an improved reloading clip for revolvers is'a one-piece flat-bottomed cup of resilient material, preferably rubber. The outside bottom surface of the cup contains a plurality of flat-topped circular recesses, each adapted to receive and seat the flanged butt end of a cartridge. These recesses are arranged in a circle, and they correspond in number and position to thecartridge'chambers in the cylinder of a revolver. A resilient flange extends substantially entirely around the lip of each cartridge-receiving recess and is adapted to grip securely the flanged butt end of the cartridge seated in the recess so that, when the clip is loaded, the plurality ofrecesses securely hold a full complement of replacement cartridges ready for instant simultaneous insertion into the cylinder of a revolver. Thus the cartridges are securely and reliably held in position,

despite'jarring or striking againstother objects such as may occur when the loaded clip is carried in a coat pocket or any other convenient place.

When .the revolver is to be reloaded, the lip of the cup is grasped in one hand (between the thumband forefinger, for example) and the cartridges are inserted simultaneously into the revolver cylinder. Without changing the manner of gripping the cup, the reloading clip can be peeled away from the butt end of the cartridges by a quick sidewise motion of the hand, so that the entire reloading process can be accomplished by aquick, substantially continuous movement of one hand, even when the user is wearing gloves. A thickened ring around the lip of the cup facilitates secure gripping of the clip, particularly with a gloved hand.

, Preferably, the outside bottom surface of the cup con-- tains .an. annular groove extending substantially through the. centers of the circular recesses and having a depth at 'This'provides in each flange two breaks or gaps located substantially at the points nearest the adjacent recesses, so that the resilient material of the cup will not be caught or pinched between adjacent cartridge flanges when the clip is peeled away from the cartridges. This feature permits use of the improved reloading 'clip with revolvers having'small cylinders such that the rims of cartridges in the cylinder may touch or nearly touch one another.

The loaded clips may be carried loose in a coat pocket or anyother convenient place. Because of the flanges that extend entirely around the flanged butt end of each cartridge, except for the two small breaks provided by the aforesaid annular groove, the cartridges are securely held in position for instant reloading despite reasonable shaking, dropping or striking against other objects. Howattaching the cannister to a cartridge belt, or to an ordi- "loadingclip fits into the open top of the metal .:cup and is securely held in position by the inwardly crimped lip.

The cartridges seated in the loaded clip extend downward inside the cannisterand their noses rest against and press Thus each cartridge is into the sponge rubber wafer. held securely in position and the assembly is rattleproof. The inwardly crimped lip of the metal cup grips the bottom of the rubber reloading clip to form a moistureproof, dustproof seal that protects the cartridges from the weather and keeps them in perfect condition for instant use over long periods of time.

The reloading clip extends upward from the top of the cannister so that the loading clip can easily and quickly be grasped by the hand. A quick upward jerk removes the loaded clip from the cannister and, without changing the grip of the hand on the reloading clip, the cartridges can be inserted into the revolver cylinder and theclip can be peeled 01f with a quick, substantially continuous one'hand motion. Nevertheless, the crimped lip ofthe cannister grips the bottom of the reloading clip securely enough and the reloading clip itself is sufliciently flexible'and resilient that reasonable shaking or thebrushing of other objects against the clip, as may occur during rough-and-tumble combat, will not dislodge the reloading clipfrom the cannister.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and

its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a loadedreloading clip for revolvers embodying principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same reloading clip, drawn to a larger scale and without the cartridges;

Fig. 3 is a section along the lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section of a loaded loading clip and cannister embodying principles of this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematicview, partly in section, showing how the reloading clip may be peeled off the cartridges after they are inserted into the cylinder of a revolver.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3 of the drawing, the improved reloading clip for revolvers is a one-piece resilient rubber cup 1 having a substantially flat outside bottom surface 2. This flat bottom surface contains a plurality of flat-topped circular recesses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 18. Re-

cesses 3 through 8 are arranged in a circle concentric with thebottom of cup 1, as shown, and correspond in number and position to the cartridge chambers of a revolver cylinder. The flat top of each recess provides a seat for receiving the flanged butt end of a cartridge. The clip is loaded by inserting into respective ones of the recesses the butt ends of a plurality of cartridges 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the lcartridgereceiving recesses (recess 8, for example) has a resilient flange 15 extending substantially entirely around its lip, as shown, Resilient flanges 15 are parts of cup 1, and are of the same resilient material, preferably rubber. These flanges underlie and grip the flanged butt ends of cartridges seated in the recesses and securely hold the cartridges in position for instant simultaneous insertion into a revolver cylinder. Because flanges 15 surround substantially the entire base of each cartridge, the cartridges are reliably and securely held in position despite reasonable shaking or dropping of the loaded clip or striking against other objects, such as will occur, for example, when the loaded clips are carried in a coat pocket or thelike. However, the resilience of cup 1 and flanges 15 permits easy loading of the clip and'also permits the clip to be peeled quickly from the cartridges after they have been inserted into the revolver cylinder, as it hereinafter more fully explained.

:01: cup 1 preferably has an annular raised portion 23 'ter and the periphery. This shape makes it easier to 'the sides of the cup slope inward as shown.

, A plurality of grooves, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are provided between respective ones of recesses 3 through 8, as shown. Grooves 16 through 21 preferably are short arcuate portions of a single circular groove in the flat outside bottom surface 2 of cup '1. The circular groove is broken into sections by recesses 3 through 8, with which it merges. This circular groove passes through the centers of the cartridge-receiving recesses, and provides in each of the flanges 15 two breaks or gaps substantially at the points nearest the two adjacent recesses.

The depth of the circular groove is equal to or slightly greater than the depth of flanges 15. The circular groove is especially important in reloading clips for use with revolvers having small cylinders such that the butt-end nearly touch one another. The two breaks in each flange keep the resilient flange material from being caught or pinched between adjacent cartridges when the reloading clip is peeled off as hereinafter explained. The two breaks in each flange also facilitate loading of the clip.

The open top of cup 1 preferably is of somewhat smaller :diameter than the bottom of the cup so that The lip of the cup preferably is thickened to form a ring 22 around the top of the cup. The inside bottom surface and the outsidebottom surface of the cup preferably has a dome-shaped central recess 24-, as shown, so that the bottom of cup 1 is relatively thin at its center and at its periphery and is relatively thick between the cenpeel the reloading clip from the cartridges after they tare inserted into the 'revolver'cylinder and provides substantial parallel alinement'while cartridges are seated in clip for easy and direct insertion of'the cartridges into the cylinder of a revolvers Recess .24 also provides clearance for the pin that is located in the center of many revolver cylinders.

Referring now toFig. 4 of the drawing, a weatherproof and rattleproofcannister for protecting the car- -tridges loaded in a clip comprises an open-topped metal ,can 25. A clasp 26 may be provided for attachingthe cannister to'a belt or other article of clothing. A resilient wafer 27, preferably of sponge rubber, covers the "inside bottom surface of can 25. The lip 28 of can 25 :is crimped inward, as shown. The bottom of resilient reloading clip 1 fits into the open top of can 25 and is securely gripped and held in place by the inwardly {crimped lip 28, forming a moistureproof and dustproof seal to protect the cartridges from the weather and from dirt. The cartridges seated in the recesses of clip 1 extend downward inside of can 25 and their noses rest on and press into sponge rubber wafer 27. As a result the cartridges are securely held in place and the assembly is rattleproof. This cannister keeps the cartridges in perfectcondition for instant use over long periods of time. A Because reloading clip 1 is securely gripped by the crimped lip 28 of the cannister and also because clip 1 is'of resilient materiaL-theloaded clip is securedly held in the cannisterand is not displaced by reasonable shaking or by other objects brushing against the clip, as may occur during rough-vand tumble combat. Howlever, theloaded clip can quickly and easily be withdrawn from thecannister simply by grasping the lip or the sides of clip 1, between the thumb and forefinger for example, and quickly pulling upward on the clip. Ring zzmakes it easier to get 'a secure grip on clip 1 which {may be done, for example, by inserting either the thumb or the "forefinger into cup 1 and pressing against the outside of cup lwithfthe other. Even when the user is wearing gloves the loaded clip is instantly available. Without changing'the grip of the hand on clip 1 the full complement of replacement cartridges can be inserted simultaneously'into the cylinder of a revolver. A quick sidewise motion of the hand will then peel the reloading clip 1 away from the cartridges that have been inserted into the revolver cylinder, as is shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a full complement of 'replacement cartridges has just been inserted into the cylinder 29 of a revolver. The hand grasping clip 1 is quickly moved to the right and as this is done clip I quickly and easily peels away from the flanged butt ends of the cartridges.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the improved cartridge clip makes possible reliable reloading of a revolver in a fraction of the time requiredhere tofore. The clip may be grasped with the thumb and forefinger of one hand, pulled out of the cannister, inserted intothe revolver cylinder and peeled off, all without changing the grip of the hand on the reloading clip, in a quick, substantially continuous one-hand motion. It is not required that the reloading clip be grasped in any particular manner. For example, the thumb or any finger can be inserted into the open top of the reloading clip, or the user can simply grab the clip without inserting any finger into the opening. This feature greatly facilitates reloading in the shortest possible time.

Furthermore, since the cartridges are held securely in place by the resilient flanges that surround substantially the entire base of each cartridge, the full complement of cartridges is always in proper position for immediate simultaneous insertion into the revolver magazine and there is little or no chance that a displaced cartridge will foul up the reloading operation. The loaded clips may be carried in a coat pocket if desired, or use may be made of the cannister that keeps the cartridges in perfect condition for instant use, and has the important advantage of being rattleproof. The improved reloading clip is exceptionally small and compact, providing maximum clearance so that it is readily usable with revolvers having protruding members that would preclude the use of more bulky reloading clips.

It should be understood that this invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described and that the following claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications that do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a resilient cup having annular sides, a closed bottom and an open top, said cup having a substantially flat bottom outside surface, said surface containing a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive the butt end of a revolver cartridge, said recesses being arranged in a circle holding a plurality of cartridges in position for simultaneous insertion into the cylinder of a revolver.

2. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a onepiece resilient cup having annular sides, a closed bottom and an open top, said cup having a substantially flat bottom outside surface, said surface containing a plurality of round flat-topped recesses each adapted to receive and seat the flanged butt end of a revolver cartridge, therebeing a resilient flange extending substantially entirely around the lip of each of said recesses and adapted to grip the flanged end of the cartridge seated in the recess and tosupport said flanged end against lateral motion inany direction, said recesses being arranged in a circle for holding a plurality of cartridges in position for simultaneous insertion into the magazine of a revolver.

3. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a onepiece unit of resilient material having a substantially flat bottom surface, said surface containing a plurality of round recesses each adapted to receive the flanged butt end of a revolver cartridge, there being a resilient flange extending substantially entirely around the lip of each of said recesses and adapted to grip the flanged end of a cartridge seated in therecess, there being only two breaks in each of said flanges, said, breaks being respectively located substantially at the points nearest the two adjacent recesses sothat the flange material will not .be pinched between adjacent cartridges, said recesses being arranged in a circle for holding a plurality of cartridges in position for simultaneous insertionv into a revolver cylinder.

4. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a :resilient cup having annular sides, a closed bottom and an open top, said cup having a substantially flat bottom outside surface, said surface containing a plurality of round recesses each adapted to receive the flanged butt end of a revolver cartridge, there being a resilient flange extending substantially entirely around the lip of each of said recesses and adapted to grip the flanged end of a cartridge seated in the recess, said recesses being arranged in a circle, for holding a plurality of cartridges in position for simultaneous insertion into the magazine of a revolver, said surface containing a circular groove passing substantially through the centers of said circular recesses, said groove having a depth at least as great as the depth of said flanges to provide in each flange only two breaks substantial-1y at the points nearest the two adjacent recesses.

5. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a flatbottomed cup of resilient material, said cup having annular sides with a thickened lip forming a ring around its top, the outside bottom surface of said cup containing a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive the butt end of a cartridge, said recesses corresponding in number and position to the cartridge chambers of a revolver cylinder.

6. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a flatbottomed cup of resilient material, said cup having annular sides, a closed bottom, and an open top of smaller diameter than its bottom so that its sides slope inward, the outside bottom surface of said cup containing a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive the butt end of a cartridge, said recesses corresponding in number and position to the cartridge chambers of a revolver cylinder.

7. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a flatbottomed cup of resilient material, said cup having annular sides, a closed bottom and an open top, the outside bottom surface of said cup containing a plurality of .recesses each adapted to receive the butt end of a car tridge, said recesses being arranged in a circle concentric with the bottom of said cup, the bottom of said cup being relatively thin at its center and at its periphery and having a thicker annular section between its center and its periphery.

8. A reloading clip for revolvers, comprising a onepiece flat-bottomed cup of resilient rubber, said cup having an open top of smaller diameter than its bottom so that its sides slope inward, said cup having a thickened lip forming a ring around its top, said cup having a substantially flat bottom outside surface containing a plurality of round flat-topped recesses each adapted to receive and seat the flanged butt end of a revolver car tridge, there being a resilient flange extending substantially entirely around the lip of each of said recesses and adapted to grip the flanged end of a cartridge seated in the recess, said flanges being parts of said one-piece cup and of the same material, said recesses being arranged in a circle concentric with the bottom of said cup for holding a plurality of cartridges in position for simultaneous insertion into a revolver cylinder, said outside bottom surface containing a circular groove passing substantially through a centers of said circular recesses, said groove ibottom ofsaidl-mbber cup fitting into the open top of i i said can and being securely gripped by said inwardly ing a:pluralitylof .recesses for seating the butt ends of I revolver cartridges, said cannister being a can having an gopen top with an inwardly crirnped lip, the bottom of said cup fitting into the open top of said can and being securely gripped by said inwardly crimped lip, the cartridges seatedin said recesses extending downward inside of said can.

10. In combinatiomareloading clip for revolvers and aLcannister, said reloading clip being arubber cup havinga snbstantiallyfiat bottom'surface, said surface containing a plurality of recesses for seating the butt ends of revolvercartridges, said cannister being a metal can having an open top with an' inwardly crimped lip, the

crimped'lip to 'form a tmoistureproof and dustproof seal,

a resilient wafer of sponge rubber "coveringthe inside bottom surface of said can, the cartridges seated in said recesses extending downward inside said can with their noses resting against and pressing into, said water to form a rattleproof assembly.-

I References Cited inithe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,255 Silva Oct. 6, 1925 1,964,171 Pflaume ..Q. June 26, 1934 2,399,904 Baucnm May 7,1946 2,637,930 I Mason May 12, 1953 

